Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem

  From the palace of Domitian Marcus was taken to his prison near theTemple of Mars. Here, because of his wealth and rank, because also hemade appeal to Caesar and was therefore as yet uncondemned of any crime,he found himself well treated. Two good rooms were given him to live in,and his own steward, Stephanus, was allowed to attend him and providehim with food and all he needed. Also upon giving his word that he wouldattempt no escape, he was allowed to walk in the gardens between theprison and the Temple, and to receive his friends at any hour of theday. His first visitor was the chamberlain, Saturius, who began bycondoling with him over his misfortune and most undeserved position.Marcus cut him short.

  "Why am I here?" he asked.

  "Because, most noble Marcus, you have been so unlucky as to incur thedispleasure of a very powerful man."

  "Why does Domitian persecute me?" he asked again.

  "How innocent are you soldiers!" said the chamberlain. "I will answeryour question by another. Why do you buy beautiful captives upon whomroyalty chances to have set its heart?"

  Marcus thought a moment, then said, "Is there any way out of thistrouble?"

  "My lord Marcus, I came to show you one. Nobody really believes that youof all men failed in your duty out there in Jerusalem. Why, the thingis absurd, as even those carpet-captains before whom you were tried knewwell. Still, your position is most awkward. There is evidence againstyou--of a sort. Vespasian will not interfere, for he is aware that thisis some private matter of Domitian's, and having had one quarrel withhis son over the captive, Pearl-Maiden, he does not wish for anotherover the man who bought her. No, he will say--this prefect was one ofthe friends and officers of Titus, let Titus settle the affair as it mayplease him when he returns."

  "At least Titus will do me justice," said Marcus.

  "Yes, without doubt, but what will that justice be? Titus issued anedict. Have you ever known him to go back upon his edicts, even to savea friend? Titus declared throughout his own camps those Romans who weretaken prisoner by the Jews to be worthy of death or disgrace, and two ofthem, common men and cowards, have been publicly disgraced in the eyesof Rome. You were taken prisoner by the Jews and have returned alive,unfortunately for yourself, to incur the dislike of Domitian, who hasraked up a matter that otherwise never would have been mooted."

  "Now," he says to Titus--"Show justice and no favour, as you showed inthe case of the captive Pearl-Maiden, whom you refused to the prayerof your only brother, saying that she must be sold according to yourdecree. Even if he loves you dearly, as I believe he does, what, my lordMarcus, can Titus answer to that argument, especially as he also seeksno further quarrel with Domitian?"

  "You said you came to show me a way to safety--yet you tell me that myfeet are set in the path of disgrace and death. Must this way of yours,then, be paved with gold?"

  "No," answered Saturius drily, "with pearls. Oh! I will be plain. Giveup that necklace--and its wearer. What do you answer?"

  Now Marcus understood, and a saying that he heard on the lips of Miriamarose in his mind, though he knew not whence it came.

  "I answer," he said with set face and flashing eyes, "that I will notcast pearls before swine."

  "A pretty message from a prisoner to his judge," replied the chamberlainwith a curious smile. "But have no fear, noble Marcus, it shall notbe delivered. I am not paid to tell my royal master the truth. Thinkagain."

  "I have thought," answered Marcus. "I do not know where the maiden isand therefore cannot deliver her to Domitian, nor would I if I could.Rather will I be disgraced and perish."

  "I suppose," mused Saturius, "that this is what they call true love,and to speak plainly," he added with a burst of candour, "I find itadmirable and worthy of a noble Roman. My lord Marcus, my mission hasfailed, yet I pray that the Fates may order your deliverance fromyour enemies, and, in reward for these persecutions, bring back to youunharmed that maiden whom you desire, but whom I go to seek. Farewell."

  Two days later Stephanus, the steward of Marcus who waited upon him inhis prison, announced that a man who said his name was Septimus wishedspeech with him, but would say nothing of his business.

  "Admit him," said Marcus, "for I grow weary of my own company," andletting his head fall upon his hand he stared through the bars of hisprison window.

  Presently he heard a sound behind him, and looked round to see an oldman clad in the robe of a master-workman, whose pure and noble faceseemed in a strange contrast to his rough garments and toil-scarredhands.

  "Be seated and tell me your business," said Marcus courteously, and witha bow his visitor obeyed.

  "My business, my lord Marcus," he said in an educated and refined voice,"is to minister to those who are in trouble."

  "Then, sir, your feet have led you aright," answered Marcus with asad laugh, "for this is the house of trouble and you see I am itsinhabitant."

  "I know, and I know the cause."

  Marcus looked at him curiously. "Are you a Christian, sir?" he asked."Nay, do not fear to answer; I have friends who are Christians," and hesighed, "nor could I harm you if I would, who wish to harm none, leastof all a Christian."

  "My lord Marcus, I fear hurt at no man's hand; also the days of Nerohave gone by and Vespasian reigns, who molests us not. I am Cyril, abishop of the Christians in Rome, and if you will hear me I am come topreach to you my faith, which, I trust, may yet be yours."

  Marcus stared at the man; it was to him a matter of amazement that thispriest should take so much trouble for a stranger. Then a thought struckhim and he asked:

  "What fee do you charge for these lessons in a new religion?"

  The bishop's pale face flushed.

  "Sir," he answered, "if you wish to reject my message, do it withoutinsult. I do not sell the grace of God for lucre."

  Again Marcus was impressed.

  "Your pardon," he said, "yet I have known priests take money, though itis true they were never of your faith. Who told you about me?"

  "One, my lord Marcus, to whom you have behaved well," answered Cyrilgravely.

  Marcus sprang from his seat.

  "Do you mean--do you mean--?" he began and paused, looking round himfearfully.

  "Yes," replied the bishop in a whisper, "I mean Miriam. Fear not, sheand her companions are in my charge, and for the present, safe. Seek toknow no more, lest perchance their secret should be wrung from you. Iand her brethren in the Lord will protect her to the last."

  Marcus began to pour out his thanks.

  "Thank me not," interrupted Cyril, "for what is at once my duty and myjoy."

  "Friend Cyril," said Marcus, "the maid is in great danger. I have justlearned that Domitian's spies hunt through Rome to find her, who, whenshe is found, will be spirited to his palace and a fate that you canguess. She must escape from Rome. Let her fly to Tyre, where she hasfriends and property. There, if she lies hid a while, she will bemolested by none."

  The bishop shook his head.

  "I have thought of it," he said, "but it is scarcely possible. Theofficers at every port have orders to search all ships that sail withpassengers, and detain any woman on them who answers to the descriptionof her who was called Pearl-Maiden. This I know for certain, for I alsohave my officers, more faithful perhaps than those of Caesar," and hesmiled.

  "Is there then no means to get her out of Rome and across the sea?"

  "I can think of only one, which would cost more money than we poorChristians can command. It is that a ship be bought in the name of somemerchant and manned with sailors who can be trusted, such as I know howto find. Then she could be taken aboard at night, for on such a vesselthere would be no right of search nor any to betray."

  "Find the ship and trusty men and I will find the money," said Marcus,"for I still have gold at hand and the means of raising more."

  "I will make inquiries," answered Cyril, "and speak with you further onthe matter. Indeed it is not necessary that you should give this money,since such a ship and her cargo, if she comes there safely, should
sellat a great profit in the Eastern ports. Meanwhile have no fear; in theprotection of God and her brethren the maid is safe."

  "I hope so," said Marcus devoutly. "Now, if you have the time to spare,tell me of this God of whom you Christians speak so much but who seemsso far away from man."

  "But who, in the words of the great apostle, my master, in truth isnot far from any one of us," answered Cyril. "Now hearken, and may yourheart be opened."

  Then he began his labour of conversion, reasoning till the sun sank andit was time for the prison gates to close.

  "Come to me again," said Marcus as they parted, "I would hear more."

  "Of Miriam or of my message?" asked Cyril with a smile.

  "Of both," answered Marcus.

  Four days went by before Cyril returned. They were heavy days forMarcus, since on the morrow of the bishop's visit he had learned thatas Saturius had foretold, Vespasian refused to consider his case, sayingthat it must abide the decision of Titus when he came back to Rome.Meanwhile, he commanded that the accused officer should remain inprison, but that no judgment should issue against him. Here, then,Marcus was doomed to lie, fretting out his heart like a lion in a cage.

  From Cyril Marcus learned that Miriam was well and sent him hergreetings, since she dared neither visit him nor write. The bishop toldhim also that he had found a certain Grecian mariner, Hector by name,a Roman citizen, who was a Christian and faithful. This man desiredto sail for the coasts of Syria and was competent to steer a vesselthither. Also he thought that he could collect a crew of Christians andJews who might be trusted. Lastly, he knew of several small galleys thatwere for sale, one of which, named the _Luna_, was a very good ship andalmost new. Cyril told him, moreover, that he had seen Gallus and hiswife Julia, and that these good people, having no more ties in Rome,partly because they desired to leave the city, and partly for love ofMiriam, though more the second reason than the first, were willing tosell their house and goods and to sail with her to Syria.

  Marcus asked how much money would be needed, and when Cyril named thesum, sent for Stephanus and commanded him to raise it and to pay itover to the craftsman Septimus, taking his receipt in discharge. ThisSeptimus promised to do readily enough by a certain day, believing thatthe gold was needed for his master's ransom. Then having settled all aswell as might be, Cyril took up his tale and preached to Marcus of theSaviour of the world with great earnestness and power.

  Thus the days went on, and twice or thrice in every week Cyril visitedMarcus, giving him tidings and instructing him in the Faith. Now theship _Luna_ was bought and the most of her crew hired; also a cargo ofsuch goods as would be salable in Syria was being laid into her hold atOstia, the Greek, Hector, giving it out that this was a private ventureof his own and some other merchants. As the man was well known fora bold trader who had bought and sold in many lands his tale causedneither wonder nor suspicion, none knowing that the capital wasfurnished by the steward of the prisoner Marcus through him who passedas the master craftsman and contractor Septimus. Indeed, until the afterdays Miriam did not know this herself, for it was kept from her by thespecial command of Marcus, and if Nehushta guessed the truth she heldher tongue.